May 1st 1999

Madonna begins filming "Beautiful Stranger" video at Universal Studios, Los Angeles, CA, directed by Brett Ratner.

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May 2nd 2011

Madonna attends the MET gala.

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18 years today, Madonna won the award for Best Actress at the 54th Golden Globes for her role in Evita.

 

This was her first win and she later picked up her second, Best Original Song with 'Masterpiece', in 2012.

 

 

I love her speech in this, you can really tell she was touched for the recognition and it meant a lot to her. Don't blame her given the amount of stick she's otherwise had for acting.

Yesterday was 3 years ago that W.E was released in cinemas.

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(A couple days late), 13th July marked 30 years since the Live Aid concert.

 

Bette Midler introduced Madonna's 16 minute set of 'Holiday', 'Into the Groove' and 'Love Makes the World Go Round'.

 

 

Billboard

Crazy to imagine, but there was once a time when Madonna could be accurately described as a buzzy pop newcomer "on everyone's lips for the last six months."

 

That was 30 years ago today (not much has changed in the buzz department) when Bette Midler delivered a slyly hilarious introduction for Madonna at Live Aid's charity concert in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985.

 

At the charity event for Ethiopian famine, Madonna delivered one of the most exuberant live performances of her entire career. Check it out below. Despite the 95-degree Philly summer heat, her "Holiday" shines with effortless energy -- and seriously, those dance moves are the epitome of '80s cool.

 

Prior to the three-song performance -- "Holiday," "Into the Groove" and "Love Makes the World Go Round" -- Bette Midler introduced the then-rising superstar to the global audience.

 

"I want you to know I have no idea why I was asked to introduce this next act -- because you all know, I am the soul of good taste and decorum," Midler told the audience with a wink. "However we are thrilled to be able to introduce to you today a woman whose name has been on everyone's lips for the last six months. A woman who pulled herself up by her bra straps and has been known to let them down occasionally."

 

For historical context, latter comment is in reference to Madonna's pre-fame nude photos that Playboy and Penthouse ran with just weeks earlier. For her part, Madonna nodded to that by commenting, "I ain't taking off shit today," at the show.

Madonna’s star was on the rise back in 1985, but her afternoon performance at Live Aid gave her career a huge push. At the time, she was one of the hottest female singers around with hit singles like “Material Girl” and “Like a Virgin” under her belt, as well as controversial nude photos in Playboy and Penthouse magazines. On stage, she addressed the photos explaining no matter how hot it gets (temps were in the 90s in Philadelphia), “I am not taking shit off today. You might hold it against me 10 years from now.” Madonna performed “Holiday” and “Into the Groove” and then was joined by Nile Rodgers for “Love Makes the World Go Round.” Later in the day, she joined Rodgers, Billy Idol’s guitarist Steve Stevens and the Thompson Twins for a cover of the Beatles’ “Revolution,” as the sun set in Philadelphia.

It may not be her best vocal, but it's great to watch her having fun and dancing care-freely on stage, which is somewhat lacking in performances later in her career. Plus being added to a line up of huge, established stars when, at this point, Madonna was only in her second year of chart success is a testament to what a great performer Madonna is. But of course, as she says, "it doesn't matter who you are; it's why you're here".

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Today marks 25 years since 'Hanky Panky' debuted on the UK charts.

 

 

A jazz and swing number with funny lyrics - definitely a guilty pleasure! Also a song that really benefits from having a performance to watch at the same time, and the best one for me is the Re-invention Tour version:

 

 

Overly theatrical and full of humour. In fact, the whole Circus-Cabaret section of the tour is well worth a watch.

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Today marks 30 years since 'Into the Groove' debuted on the UK charts.

 

 

Huge 80s party song! So instantly catchy; the whole song feels like one chorus, probably because Madonna sings in the same tone and the instrumental rarely changes.

 

 

This is my favourite live performance of the track. Equally fun and energetic as the song itself. Love the incorporation of 'Jump' in the Double Dutch jump rope scene.

My fav live performance is from the WTG Tour !

 

One of her classics and a fav of mine :)

 

 

You do like the Who's That Girl Tour! :D I do like that performance too, in fact on the whole tour she seems to be all about having fun.

It's not my fav tour but the performances of WTG , ITG and Lucky Star are highlights !!!

 

I also grew up watching the VHS

My 3rd fave Madge song behind Like A Prayer and Hung Up :wub: What a song, utter classic, perfect pop song <3

I've combined the thread with a previous one.

 

It's not my fav tour but the performances of WTG , ITG and Lucky Star are highlights !!!

 

I also grew up watching the VHS

Yeah, 'Who's That Girl' from that tour is great! What's your favourite tour?

 

My 3rd fave Madge song behind Like A Prayer and Hung Up :wub: What a song, utter classic, perfect pop song <3

Incredible Top 3 there! I really wish the remastered version of the Like a Virgin album had 'Into the Groove' on it because it would definitely be one of the best moment.

I've never been a big fan, it's fine, but unlike so many of her other 80's hits it sounds basic and dated today and I rarely ever play it.

I just watched that Live Aid performance from 1985 for the first time, really good! I love her energy.

 

It's incredible to think how much her speaking voice has changed since then.

Tour Rank

1. Blond Ambition

2. Confessions

3. Virgin Tour

4. Sticky and Sweet

5. WTG

6. MDNA

7. Drowned World

8. Girlie Show

9. Reinvention

 

Reinvention had plenty of hits but no real killer performances for me .

 

Not seen all of the Re-invention Tour yet but I love the whole Circus-Cabaret section and 'Vogue' at the start. Drowned World is fantastic too. Can't argue with that Top 2 though! :wub:

It's incredible to think how much her speaking voice has changed since then.

Well, speaking voice and singing voice! I think there was a change in the early 90s and obviously after Evita for her singing voice. Plus your voice alters with age of course.